Apparatus for applying closure members

ABSTRACT

A device for applying friction-engageable closure members to appropriately apertured containers wherein each of the members is fed to the device from the bottom of a stack thereof. The device also includes means for separating the lowermost closure member of the stack from other members even when they are arranged in irregularly overlapping frictional engagement with each other.

I United States Patent 1111 3,533,347

[721 Inventors A-J- flfl hlr. [56] References Cited 1926 Barret AV., Richmond, Calif. 94801; UNITED STATES PATENTS W 5657 1,972,858 9/1934 Almgren 113/30 Sobrante, Cahl. 94803 I 2,323,939 7/1943 Schm1tt 113/30 [21] Appl. No. 744,769

2,440,030 4/1948 Thomas.... 113/30 [22] Wed 1968 2 453 545 11 948 s' 113 114 45] Paemed June 8,1971 ll impson Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson Attorney-Townsend and Townsend [54] S FOR APPLYING CLOSURE ABSTRACT: A device for applying friction-engageable clo- 2 CM 10 D i H sure members to appropriately apertured containers wherein raw ng each of the members is fed to the device from the bottom of a [52] US. Cl 113/30 stack thereof. The device also includes means for separating [51] Int. Cl B2ld 51/44 the lowermost closure member of the stack from other mem- [50] Field of Search ..1l3/30, 113 bers even when they are arranged in irregularly overlapping frictional engagement with each other.

PATENTEU JUN 8|97| 3,583,347.

sum 1 [1F 4 INVENTORS A. J. WHITTEN, JR BY ANTONE T GOYAK TW a.) 7 e ATTORNEYS PATENTEUJUN 8197! 3583-347 Vi/VRNTOIS A. J. WHITTEN JR, BY ANTONE T GOYAK ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUN 8 IEYI SHEET 3 BF 4 FIG 4 INVENTORS A. J. WHITTEN, JR.

BY ANTONE T. GOYAK ATTORNEYS FIG 5A PATENTH] J!!! 8 I971 SHEET H [1F 4 III] E lllllllllll/l/l Ill/Ill FIG 7A INVHNTORS FIG-7B A. J. WHITTEN,JR.

BY ANTONE T GOYAK 7M 0.17M

AT TORNEYS APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS This invention relates to apparatus for separating frictionally engaged closure members such as single friction lids from a stack thereof and automatically applying the member into frictional engagement with the aperture of a correspond mg container.

In those canning industries where friction-type closure means (lids) are employed, present practices involve the manual installation of the closure members. The reason for this is that the closure members are obtained from the manufacturer in compact stacks of overlapping lids. Because of the design of the single friction closure members, the lids are not in regular alignment as the bottom of one lid is usually irregularly jammed into the recess present in the top of the lid next below it in the stack. As a result, it is necessary to separate the lids from each other prior to inserting them in the aperture of the filled container. No known automatic means are presently available and manual methods must be utilized. Of course, such manual operations are not only time consuming but are also expensive, especially in terms of labor costs. As a result, the use of single friction lids has not gained widespread acceptance.

The present invention is directed to a device for individually separating closure members from an overlapping stack, positioning the member adjacent to an aperture in a corresponding container and then applying the closure member to the container. Briefly, the apparatus is of the type that can be arranged in the form of a single unit which can be easily and quickly attached to a conventional conveyor unit for bringing containers into association with the apparatus.

In one aspect, the device has a capacity for first separating one closure member from an overlapping stack thereof by removing the bottom member from the stack. The separated lid is then advanced to a position adjacent the aperture in the container to which the closure member is to be applied. The closure member is aligned for appropriate engagement with the aperture (opening) in the container and then forced into frictional engagement within the aperture of the container. Once the frictional engagement is obtained, the closed (sealed) container is advanced out of the closure applicator and another container positioned for application of a closure member.

Thus, it is a principal object of this invention to provide apparatus for the application of friction-engaging closure members to containers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for separating closure members from an overlapping stack thereof.

It is another object of this invention to convey containers into position for application of friction-engaging closure members.

It is a feature and advantage of this invention to provide a closure member dispensing apparatus that can be attached to a conventional container conveying system so that cans can be automatically advanced into position for application of said closure members.

These objects, features and advantages will be better understood and others will become apparent when reference is made to the following disclosure, especially in view of the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrating the position ofthe stack of closure members and containers;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown by F IG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 50 and 5b are sectional views taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and illustrating the scissor orifice reducer;

FIGS. 61: and 6b are enlarged sectional views taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and illustrating operation of the linkage assembly for advancing the closure member as desired; and

FIGS. 70 and 7b are enlarged fragmentary views showing the positioning ofthe closure member upon the container.

The present invention is directed to a machine for applying friction-engaging closure members to conventional containers such as are utilized in the paint industry and the like. For convenience, the following description of the invention will be described in terms of closure members of the single friction type. However, it will be understood by one skilled in this art that this invention is also useful with all types of closure mem bers that involve friction engagement such as double and triple friction closure members. Furthermore, although the in vcntion as described hereinafter will be characterized in terms of a system utilizing magnetic concepts, it will also be appreciated by one skilled in this art that other devices such as a vacuum or electromagnetic system could be employed to produce the relative movement of the closure member from the overlapping stack into frictional engagement with the intended container.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views, FIG. I illustrates a perspective view of a lid-applicating device according to this invention that includes closure member holding assembly A, disengagement and advance ment assembly 8, closure application assembly C and container advancement assembly D, each of which will be shown in more detail in the following description of the inventive concept as illustrated by FIGS. 2-7. The lid-applicating device is fabricated from rigid sheet metal. Of course, it will be apparent to one skilled in this art that any conventional type of materials can be utilized without departing from the true scope of inventive concept. Furthermore, for purposes of clarity, the apparatus of this invention will be described in detail with respect to the application of a single lid although it will be appreciated by those skilled in this art that conventional assembly line speeds are contemplated for application of successive lids.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the device includes a generally horizontal base 10 upon which is supported disengagement and advancement assembly B. Assembly B includes a number of vertical walls and top 12 arranged generally parallel to base 10. Top 12 supports holding assembly A that includes an aperture 16 for allowing passage of lids l8 therethrough. Thus aperture 16 is slightly larger in diameter than the outer diameter of lid 18. Upright posts 14 are arranged around the periphery of aperture 16 to retain stack 17 oflids 18 in general alignment above aperture 16.

Turning now to FIGS. 5a and 5b, there is shown a pair of plates 20 and 20' that are normally spring biased by springs 21 into the position illustrated by FIG. 5a. When in this spring biased position, distance n is less than the diameter of lid 18, thereby preventing passage of lid 18 therethrough. Plates 20 and 20 are attached to respective hydraulically operated cylinders 22 and 22 through pistons 23 and 23, respectively, that, when activated, withdraw and separate, thereby allowing lid 18 to pass through. Plates 20 and 20 can also be activated by solenoids.

As shown in FIG. 4, hydraulic cylinder 26 is arranged below plates 20 and 20 in generally axial alignment with stack 17. Cylinder 26 includes piston 28 having an upper reach, when fully extended, located below plates 20 and 20'. The outer end of piston 28 is provided with disc 29 including recessed magnetic insert 30. Disc 29 is of generally circular configuration and generally normal to the axis of piston 28. Cylinder 26 is mounted so that when piston 28 is fully extended, disc 29 will be located below plates 20 and 20 by a vertical distance corresponding to from about one-half to 1% times the thickness of lid 18. In this manner, when plates 20 and 20' are drawn apart, the downward gravitational movement of stack 17 is limited by disc 29 so that when plates 20 and 20' are returned to the position shown in FIG. 5A (closed), only a single lid 18 will have been allowed to descend below plates 20 and 20'. Lid 18 is then in physical contact with and magnetically held to disc 29. Thereafter, by withdrawing piston 28 into cylinder 26, disc 29 (with magnetic insert 30) causes bottom lid 18 to be separated from the adjacent, overlapping, frictionally engaged lid 18.

Turning again to FIG. SB, the downward travel oflink 18 is terminated by physical contact with guide rails 24 and 24' spaced an insufficient distance apart to allow for passage of lid 18 therethrough. A piston 28 is further withdrawn into cylinder 26, the magnetic contact between lid 18 and disc 29 is broken and lid 18 rests freely upon rails 24 and 24. Rails 24 and 24' are preferably L-shaped in cross section so that lid 18 is held therebetween for advancement as described, infra. Rails 24 and 24 extend generally horizontally from under stack 17 out of assembly B and terminate near closure application assembly C.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 63, there is shown the closure advancement portion of assembly B that includes cylinder 32, piston 34 and pivotally mounted drive member 42, and a series of interconnecting links 36, 38 and 40. Each of the links is arranged to cooperate with the others so that when cylinder 32 is activated to extend piston 34, drive member 42 is pivotally advanced about pivot point 44 from the position shown in H6. 6A to the position shown in FIG. 6B. ln this manner, lid 18, previously positioned upon guide rails 24 and 24, will be engaged by drive member 42 and advanced from a position below the stack of lids 18 to a position generally beyond guide rails 24 and 24 and below closure application assembly C.

Referring again to FIG. 4, mounted on assembly B in alignment over the outer ends of guide rails 24 and 24 is closure application assembly C including hydraulic cylinder 46 containing piston 48 terminating in an enlarged outer end, hereinafter referred to as disc 50. Disc 50 is preferably of similar outer configuration to the upper recess within lid 18. Furthermore, disc 50 is provided with a magnet 52 that occupies a recess 49 in disc 50. Extending generally downward from piston 48 is L-shaped stop arm 53 having its outer leg extending below the outer surface of disc 50. Arm 53 prevents lid 18 from being projected beyond assembly C, Furthermore, it serves as a guide to align lid 18 upon disc 50, ferromagnetic lid 18 being attracted toward disc 50 as a result of the magnetic field created by magnet 52. Thus when lid 18 is projected to the ends of guide rails 24 and 24', it will be drawn into engagement with disc 50. Because of the particular configuration of the disc 50, the lid will, of course, be autmatically centered thereon. Thus a succession of lids 18 will be aligned in a substantially identical position on disc 50.

By positioning a series of containers 54 with their aperture adjacent to lid 18 in alignment thereunder and activating cylinder 46 to advance piston 48, lid 18 is disposed in frictional engagement with the aperture in container 54. When piston 48 is then returned to its original position, lid 18 will be retained in frictional engagement with container 54 to accomplish the desired sealing, as shown in FlGS. 7A and 7B.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, container advancement assembly D includes carriage 56 mounted for reciprocal movement across the front of the device and transverse to conveyor 58 (shown in phantom). Carriage 56 includes a series of cam arms 60 integral therewith and extending generally normal to the axis of carriage 56. Carriage 56 is advanced in to and fro movement across the front of the device by activation of hydraulic cylinder 62 which extends and withdraws piston 64. Cylinder 62 is secured to housing while the outer end of piston 64 is secured to carriage 56. A pair of generally elongated guides 66 and 68 define a path for controlled advancement of containers 54 into position below closure application assembly C. Guide 68 is further provided with a hook end to direct containers 54 as they pass along conveyor 58.

Carriage 56 is rotatable about its axis in response to the to and fro movement of piston 70 when activated by hydraulic cylinder 72. In operation, cam arms 60 are first arranged generally horizontal and behind a succession of containers 54. Cylinder 62 is then activated to advance carriage 56 and cam arms 60 a prescribed distance so as to position a container under disc 50 carrying lid 18. When lid 18 has been applied to container 54, carriage 56 is rotated by activation of cylinder 72 so that cam arms 60 are moved to a generally vertical posi tion out of contact with containers 54. Then piston 64 is returned to its first position thereby moving carriage 56 back to its original position. Cylinder 72 is again activated returning cam arms 60 to a horizontal location behind successive ofcontainers 54. Thus, intermittent advancement of containers 54 into the desired position below closure application assembly C is accomplished.

Summarizing the operation of the instant device, plates 20 and 20 are first separated to allow stack 17 to gravitationally descend therebetween a distance governed by the upper surface of disc 29. Plates 20 and 20 are then returned to their horizontal position between lid 18 and the next successive lid thereabove. In this manner plates 20 and 20' act as a scissors orifice which restrains further downward movement of stack 17. Cylinder 26 is then activated to withdraw piston 28 and disc 29 from its extended position. This causes lid 18 to be separated from the next adjacent lid and drawn down into contact with guide rails 24 and 24'. Continued withdrawal of piston 28 eliminates the physical contact between disc 29 and lid 18 thereby leaving lid 18 resting upon guide rails 24 and 24. Thereafter, activation of cylinder 32 advances drive member 42 from its first position to its second position thereby accelerating lid 18 along guide rails 24 and 24'. The forward advance of lid ll8 is terminated by stop arm 53. At this point, lid 18 is drawn upward into engagement with disc 50 through the attraction created by the ferromagnetic lid 18 and magnet 52 positioned in recess 49 of disc 50. Container advancement assembly D is then activated to position container 54 in axial alignment with piston 48 and disc 50. Activation of cylinder 46 advances lid 18 into frictional engagement with the aperture in container 54. Piston 48 is then withdrawn leaving lid 18 frictionally engaged with container 54. Container advancement assembly D is then activated to advance sealed container 54 out of alignment with closure application assembly C it will be apparent to one skilled in this art that the sequential operation of this apparatus will be accomplished through the use of various electrical timers, and that various of the hydraulic pistons can be replaced by solenoids or other conventional apparatuses.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for positioning a ferromagnetic, recess-containing closure member in frictional engagement with an aperture in a container arranged at a predetermined position, said closure member being initially disposed at the lower end of a stack thereof in frictional engagement with the next adjacent closure member in said stack, comprising: means for separating said lower closure member from the next adjacent closure member in said stack, said separating means including a pair of spring biased plates adapted to be moved along a plane from a first position for preventing the passage of a closure member therebetween to a second position for allowing for the passage of a closure member therebctween; reciprocally driven means including a hydraulic cylinder and a first piston having an outer end including a magnet of a strength sufficient to cause said closure member to adhere thereto, said outer end being positioned at a first location below said plates by a distance corresponding to about the thickness of a closure member, said magnet being aligned for physical engagement with said closure member after said plates have been moved from said first to said second position, said piston being reciprocable transversly to said plane to a second location; and guide members positioned below said plates for intersecting the downward movement of said closure member when so urged by said reciprocally driven means, whereby when said plates are moved from said first position to said second position, said stack allowed to descend said distance, said plates returned to said first position, and said driven means withdrawn from said first location to said second location, a closure member will be separated from said stack and retained on said guide members; piston actuated means for advancing said separated closure member along and beyond said guide members to a location spaced adjacent to said predetermined position; means for maintaining said advanced member in alignment with the aperture of said container, said maintaining means comprising a second piston having an outer end with a configuration conforming to the recess in said closure member, the outer end of said second piston being further provided with a second magnet ofsufficient strength to attract 

1. Apparatus for positioning a ferromagnetic, recess-containing closure member in frictional engagement with an aperture in a container arranged at a predetermined position, said closure member being initially disposed at the lower end of a stack thereof in frictional engagement with the next adjacent closure member in said stack, comprising: means for separating said lower closure member from the next adjacent closure member in said stack, said separating means including a pair of spring biased plates adapted to be moved along a plane from a first position for preventing the passage of a closure member therebetween to a second position for allowing for the passage of a closure member therebetween; reciprocally driven means including a hydraulic cylinder and a first piston having an outer end including a magnet of a strength sufficient to cause said closure member to adhere thereto, said outer end being positioned at a first location below said plates by a distance corresponding to about the thickness of a closure member, said magnet being aligned for physical engagement with said closure member after said plates have been moved from said first to said second position, said piston being reciprocable transversly to said plane to a second location; and guide members positioned below said plates for intersecting the downward movement of said closure member when so urged by said reciprocally driven means, whereby when said plates are moved from said first position to said second position, said stack allowed to descend said distance, said plates returned to said first position, and said driven means withdrawn from said first location to said second location, a closure member will be separated from said stack and retained on said guide members; piston actuated means for advancing said separated closure member along and beyond said guide members to a location spaced adjacent to said predetermined position; means for maintaining said advanced member in alignment with the aperture of said container, said maintaining means comprising a second piston having an outer end with a configuration conforming to the recess in said closure member, the outer end of said second piston being further provided with a second magnet of sufficient strength to attract and retain said ferromagnetic closure member in engagement with said outer end; and hydraulic means in association with said second piston for forcing said closure member into frictional engagement with said container, the extent of said frictional engagement being sufficient to overcome the attraction of said second magnet for said closure member.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and further characterized by means for sequentially advancing a plurality of said containers into position for application of successive of said closure members. 